Putin and Hitlers foreign policy

Hitler's foreign policy before the war rested on making Germany a great power and bringing the Germanic people back into a united German nation. Hence his desire for the Sudetenland, the Polish coridoor (and South Tyrol, though he let that be)

I don't think the two situations are really comparable. Hitler was intent on territorial expansion into a united nation before a grand push east to conquer yet more land, Putin is simply using his resources for diplomatic leverage. As it is the Russians are having enough trouble crushing their own insurgencies (Chechnya) to seriously consider imperialistic conquest abroad.

Originally posted by Parnell Is he 'protecting' these Russian populations or is it a part of a grander delusion, a method of returning Russia to some of its former geopolitical might?

Russian populations in Georgia, Azerbaijan, and some other USSR countries? The only Russians to speak of in some of these areas today are Russian troops.

Russia just wants a monopoly on energy resources pure and simple. Even if you look at tiny  Chechnya, the real reason Russia never accepted its independence like it did other states is because they have a very important pipeline to build that goes directly through it to all the way to the Black Sea.


Edited by kafkas - 30-Apr-2008 at 05:30

How do you define a 'Russian citizen' there? I guess they used to be Soviet citizens, or were they already citizens of the Georgian SSR? Didn't they automatically become Georgian citizens when the Soviet Union broke up?

Originally posted by Sarmat12 This topic is a complete BS       Only person lacking any understanding of Hitlers foreign policy and the situation in modern Russia can make such "comparacents."   Russia has been and remains a corrupt regime primarily concerned with making money, but not "returning any geopolitical might."   But even that corrupted regime was forced to the edge by agressive movenment to the East by Nato (in clear violation of all USSR-USA agreements) and now even missiles are going to be located in Czech republic in Poland aiming at "Iran."   What is Russia supposed to do? Idiotic American policy to isolate Russia just creates more trouble in the already very unstable world and forces Russia to look for "retaliation."  But honestly, it's the last thing what Russia really wanted to do.   The West wants to see the hostile Russia, ok you will get it finally after persistent requests...

People need to learn to seperate their politicians from their actual people. I'm just thinking aloud regarding Putins foreign policy.

Originally posted by Parnell ...    Are they really so different? Hitler's primary goals were uniting a Greater Germany of German citizens and in the long term, a colonial empire in the east (Lebensraum) for the Germans. I'm obviously not saying Putin needs Lebensraum in eastern Europe. Putin's primary goal is restoring Russia to (Some of) former strength. If you ever listen to his rhetoric, Russian strength is a recurring theme.

More than anexing, I see Putin acting to stop the former soviet republic for continuing breaking appart. Nothing wrong with that. Lincoln did exactly that in the United States and nobody calls him a Hitler. China is doing the same. Canada has done it during centuries stopping Quebec from running away. And even in South America all countries are helping Bolivia to prevent that country becomes a collection of microscopic nations.

Originally posted by pinguin More than anexing, I see Putin acting to stop the former soviet republic for continuing breaking appart. Nothing wrong with that. Lincoln did exactly that in the United States and nobody calls him a Hitler. China is doing the same. Canada has done it during centuries stopping Quebec from running away. And even in South America all countries are helping Bolivia to prevent that country becomes a collection of microscopic nations. Russians today mind theirs own business, which is fine. The other superpower is the one that is creating throuble at global scale. Fortunately, the democrats will win the next election and they'll fix the United State and the fascists republicans in power.

Okay I'll leave Russia's domestic policies towards its "autonomous" Republics alone for now. Now I'm talking about Russian imperialism against independent states such as Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, and other former Soviet states. I'm talking about Russian imperialism before, during, and after the Soviet Union.  Russia is just as bad as you accuse the United States to be if not worse. At least American imperialism doesn't involve forcing tens of millions of people to speak a different language or change their religion and culture. Russians, at least the politicians and military, are far from a people who "mind their own business" (I wish they did).

Now as for the topic, I think Hitler and Putin both want to subjugate other nations, but their reasons for wanting to do so are different.


Edited by kafkas - 01-May-2008 at 04:07

Originally posted by kafkas Okay I'll leave Russia's domestic policies towards its "autonomous" Republics alone for now. Now I'm talking about Russian imperialism against independent states such as Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, and other former Soviet states. I'm talking about Russian imperialism before, during, and after the Soviet Union.  Russia is just as bad as you accuse the United States to be if not worse. At least American imperialism doesn't involve forcing tens of millions of people to speak a different language or change their religion and culture. Russians, at least the politicians and military, are far from a people who "mind their own business" (I wish they did). Now as for the topic, I think Hitler and Putin both want to subjugate other nations, but their reasons for wanting to do so are different.

Edited by Sarmat12 - 01-May-2008 at 04:31